It was instituted by King Victor Emmanuel III during World War I on 19 January 1918.

[2] The award received major changes during World War II and currently is issued by the Italian Republic as well.

The Italian War Merit Cross was awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year's service in contact with an enemy, or who received the Medal of the Wounded, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion.

[3] The number of awards was limited to ten, indicated by a combination of bronze, silver and gold crowns.

The medal received another change under the Italian Republic in 1947, the royal cypher being replaced by the intertwined letters "RI" for Repubblica Italiana.